International Box Office: International Men of Money

June 7th, 2012

Men in Black 3 held on extremely well during its second weekend of release on the international scene earning an easy first place with $78.67 million on 20,554 screens in 90 markets for a total of $275.17 million internationally. This is already more than Men in Black 2 made during its entire run. Worldwide the film has $386.25 million, which is higher than the high end of the film's reported budgets. It's on track to reach between $500 million and $600 million worldwide, which is enough to put it on track to earn a profit sometime on the film's home market run. Amazingly, the film actually held on well in China, where it was down less than 30% to $15.4 million on 5,200 screens over the weekend for a total of $51 million after two. Perhaps it will reach the century mark there. In Germany, it grew by 3% to $5.32 million on 742 screens over the weekend for a total of $13.44 million. It also grew by 3% in the U.K., but fell to third place with $4.69 million on 533 screens over the weekend for a total of $12.30 million after two. In Britain, it was the Jubilee Holiday, so that explains the growth.

Other major markets include Russia, where it fell to second, down 60% to $6.69 million on 1,549 screens over the weekend for a total of $29.26 million after two. This is actually a pretty good hold for the market. Men in Black 3 remained in first place in Japan with $5.32 million on 981 screens over the weekend for a two-week total of $20.42 million. It suffered a 53% drop-off in South Korea, but remained in top spot with $3.80 million on 608 screens over the weekend for a total of $18.05 million. It also earned first place in Australia for the second weekend in a row with $3.55 million on 596 screens giving it a total of $9.91 million. MiB3 had to settle for second place during its second weekend in Mexico after falling 38% to $3.24 million on 1,678 screens over the weekend for a total of $10.67 million. It held a little bit better in Brazil down 33%, which allowed it to retain top spot with $3.13 million on 762 screens over the weekend for a total of $9.62 million after two. It was pushed into second place in France with $2.74 million on 763 screens over the weekend for a total of $8.86 million after two.

Snow White And The Huntsman opened in second place with $39.31 million on 4,735 screens in 45 markets. This includes some previews from last weekend. The film's biggest market was the U.K., but it had to settle for second place there with $5.55 million on 473 screens. It did earn first place in Mexico with $4.47 million on 1,433 screens and in Spain with $3.75 million on 576 screens. It was strong, but had to settle for second place in Germany with $3.85 million on 618 screens and in Brazil with $2.64 million on 447. On the other hand, the film struggled in South Korea earning fifth place with $1.71 million on 443 screens over the weekend for a total opening of $2.95 million. With openings in France, Russia, Japan, Australia, Italy, and other smaller markets, the film should have no trouble getting to $100 million internationally very shortly, while $300 million worldwide should be more than enough to show a profit sooner rather than later.

Prometheus was right behind with $34.76 million on 4,616 screens in 15 markets, while it debuted in first place in 14 of those markets. Its best single market was Russia, where it scored $9.80 million on 1,670 screens. The U.K. was close behind with $9.64 million on 514, while it was also strong in France with $5.17 million on 665. Given the relative sizes of these markets and in the case of Russia its affinity for the genre, I think a $50 million opening here is very likely and $60 million is possible. If you haven't entered our contest yet, there's a lot of additional information to take into account. (And if you have entered, you can always readjust your prediction.)

The Avengers has fallen to fourth place with $16.3 million on 8,641 screens in 54 markets for a total of $806.4 million internationally and $1.359 billion worldwide. It became just the fifth film to reach the $800 million market internationally, and it is already in fourth place on the all-time chart overtaking Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Worldwide the film is now the highest grossing non-James Cameron film of all time.

Rowdy Rathore opened in fifth place with $12.44 million, of which, about $10.8 million was earned in its native India.

Dark Shadows fell out of the top five and below $10 million, but still managed $7.5 million on 3,929 screen in 52 markets over the weekend for a total of $121.1 million after four. It is closing in on $200 million worldwide and should get there before the end of the upcoming weekend, while it has yet to open in Brazil, Mexico and some other smaller markets.

The Dictator was right behind with $7.48 million on 2,492 screens in 30 markets for a total of $61.75 million after three weeks of release. It had no major market openings this past weekend, but it has yet to open in Italy, France, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan, so it has a lot of box office potential remaining.

The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists! (that's the international name) returned to the top ten with $5.84 million on 4,754 screens in 35 markets for a total of $84.87 million internationally and $113.44 million worldwide. It jumped into eighth place thanks to an opening in China, where it made $5.10 million.

Mirror Mirror also returned to the top ten landing in ninth place with $5.20 million on 1,028 screens in 26 markets for a total of $103.17 million. It was an expensive movie to make, but hitting the century mark internationally should help it break even sometime on the home market.

What To Expect When You're Expecting rounded out the top ten with $4.41 million on 1,178 screens in 20 markets over the weekend for a still early total of $10.10 million. The film opened in second place in Australia with $2.47 million on 305 screens, which is much better than its opening here, given the relative size of the two markets.